leonard



(NoModeL) 3Sheets-Sheet 1.

O. N. LEONARD. SURGICAL GHAIR' No. 472,372. Patented Apr. 5, 1892.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(N0 M0d6l.) G. N. LEONARD.

SURGICAL CHAIR.

No. 472,372 Patented pr. 5, 1892.

(No Model.) 3 SheetsP-Sheet 3.

O. N. LEONARD.

- SURGICAL CHAIR.

No. 472,372. Patented Apr. 5, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES N. LEONARD, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE DRAKE & WVOOD COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SURGICAL CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 472,372, dated April 5, 1892.

Application filed March 10, 1891. Serial No. 384,464:- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES N. LEONARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Surgical Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

My said invention relates to various improvements in the construction and arrangement of the details of that class of chairs known as surgical chairs, whereby such a chair is provided capable of all required adjustments, and which, while being of great durability and strength, and adapted to furnish a firm support in whatever position it may be used, is at the same time of comparatively small cost, of great simplicity in structure, and easy and convenient of adjustment, as will be hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is a top or plan View of a chair constructed in accordance with my said invention, the back being shown in substantially a horizontal position and a portion of the right arm being broken away to more clearly show the parts beneath it; Fig. 2, a side elevation of the chair in the same position with the stirrup attachment added; Fig. 3, a central vertical section on the dotted line 3 3 in Fig. 1,the back being shown in upright position and the foot-rest in elevated position, other positions of the two parts being indicated by dotted lines; Fig. 4, a plan view of the base of the chair with the seat removed; Fig. 5, a view similar to Fig. 3, eX- cept that the back is in a reclining position, the foot-rest down, and the seat tilted to a backwardly-inclined position; Fig. 6,acrosssection looking in the direction of the arrows from the dotted lines 6 6 in Figs. 3 and 5, the seat being shown in the side-tilt position,

the reverse position being indicated by dotted lines; Fig. 7, a detail cross-section looking in the direction of the arrows from the dotted line 7 7 in Fig. 3, showing the way in which the spring-pawls for holding the back in adjustment are mounted Fig. 8, a detail perspective view showing therear slde of the foot-rest and the mechanism thereto attached; Fig. 9, a detail section looking in the direction of the arrows from the dotted line 9 9 in Fig. 8; Fig. 10, a detail perspective view of a portion of Fig. 8; Fig. 11, a detail sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows from the dotted line 11 11 in Fig. 12; Fig. 12, a similar view looking in the direc tion of the arrows from the dotted line 12 12 in Fig. 11; Fig. 13, a detail plan view looking in the direction of the arrows from the dotted line 13 13 in Fig. 2; Fig. 14, a detail section looking in the direction of the arrows from the dotted line 14 14 in Fig. 13, and Fig. 15 a detail elevation looking, as indicated by the arrows, from the dotted line 15 15 in Fig. 3.

In said drawings, the portions marked A represent the frame of the base or stool of the chair; B, the seat; 0, the back; D, the footrest, and E the stirrup-bar.

The base A consists, preferably, of a rectangular frame supported on suitable legs or feet properly braced and framed together, substantially as shown; but, as will be readily understood, may consist of any form or arrangement of frame-work found suitable. It has attached thereto those portions of the operating mechanism which require bearings thereon, and supports the seat on its top. This mechanism will be particularly described hereinafter in connection with the description 1 of the construction and operation of the parts connected therewith.

The seat B consists of a suitable frame and is mounted on the base A to be adjusted in various positions thereon. Its front rests upon the front cross-bar A of the base, which is formed with a high portion at its center to support said seat at the desired elevation above the rest of the frame-work of the base, being tapered toward each end from said central point (see Fig. 12) to permit the seat to be rocked or tilted sidewise, as will be presently described. At a point between its center and rear edge, midway between its sides, is secured a downwardly-projecting stud b, with a ball-shaped end, which rests in the cupshaped cavity or bearing in the top of the casting a, secured to the rear cross-bar of the base A. These two rests furnish the main support for the seat when in a horizontal position, or the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. It will be understood, of course, that the position of these parts might be reversed or another universal bearing substituted therefor without departing from my invention or avoiding my claims wherein the relative positions shown are specified.

To each side of the seat-frame, in line with the bearing Z), is secured a downwardly-pro jecting ear I), (see Fig. 6,) in which are provided bearings for the ends of the curved rack-bar B, which ends are formed as journals and mounted in said bearings. Said rack-bar B is curved downwardly and rests subs antially against the inner face of the rear cross-bar of the base A. A roller or other suitable bearing a is secured to said crossbar at a point directly below the bearing between the parts a and I), under which roller the upper edge of said curved bar operates, said roller or hearing a being formed with a recess or lip to engage the edge of said bar, thus operating to hold it steady and also prevent the seat from being lifted out of the bearing a when the chair or back is raised. Abearing a is secured to one of the side pieces of the base A, and at a point between the center of the chair and the opposite side piece another bearing a is secured to the rear crossbar, and in said bearings a and a is mounted a shaft A provided with a worm-gear, as shown, (see Fig. 6,) which engages with the teeth 011 the central portion of the curved bar B. On the outer end of said shaft a crank or hand-wheel A is provided, by which said shaft may be turned, and through the various connections described operate to tilt the seat from side to side, as will be readily understood. By this arrangement any degree of side inclination may be easily secured and maintained without any lock or other support, the friction between the gears being sufficient to hold the parts in any position to which they are adjusted.

Near the front edge of the seat is secured a housing provided with bearings in which the journals of a depending rack-bar B are mounted. Said journal bearings are arranged in line longitudil'ially of the chair with the rear bearing 1), and the bar depending therefrom is provided with a series of notches in one of its sides, the ends of the portions between the notches being formed V-shaped, or tapered to a point. To the rear face of the front cross-bar A of the base is secured a casing A through a vertical way in which said bar B extends. In the rear wall of said casing is formed a perforation, through which a reciprocating catch-bar A is arranged to slide, the catch a of said bar being formed on its side adjacent to the bar 13*, the point of said catch being formed wedge-shaped, and thus adapted to engage with the notches in the side of said bar B Said bar A is normally held forward and its catch a into engagement with the notches of said bar B by means of a spring a, mounted on a rod A, running from a point directly under the bearing 1) to and through a projec' tion on the side or edge of said bar A, as shown, (see Figs. 5 and 11,) between which points said spring bears. Said bar A may be withdrawn and its catch a disengaged from the notches of said bar B by means of a foot-lever A which is connected thereto by means of a rod a connected with a bellcrank lever a rigidly secured to the rockshaft A the rear end of said bar being connected to the upper end of another bell-crank lever a", also rigidly. secured to said rockshaft A which is mounted in a bearing on the side of the frame at its outer end and in a bearing A preferably formed in piece with the casting in which the bearing a is formed (see Figs. 4 and 6) at its inner end. By this arrangement the front edge of the chair may be adjusted to and secured at the desired elevation and the back tilt'of the seat provided for. The notches in the sides of the bar B being formed with flared mouths and the catch a on the bar A being formed with a pointed end, the pressure upon the foot-lever A being released, the spring a will always operate to force said catch into engagement with the nearest notch and secure the chair in the adjusted position. The catch a being formed on the side of the bar A, the end of said bar may be extended a short distance beyond said catch and be formed of a size to fit the perforation or bearing in the casing A", through which it operates, thus enabling the catch to be withdrawn without danger of removing said bar from its bearing, and at the same time afford it a smooth and straight edge to slide upon throughout its entire movement. A stop a is provided on the side piece of the frame A, against which the bell-crank lever a is adapted to strike when the catch has been withdrawn from engagement with the notches of the bar B and thus limit its movement at the proper point. In each side of the casing A a perforation a is provided, (see Fig. 11,) and rods A with their rear ends secured in perforations near each end of the bar B, (see Fig. 4,) are provided with hookshaped forward ends, which are inserted or hooked into said perforations a which, being larger than the rods, permit the hooks to be moved or twisted therein sufficiently to allow the free tilting of the seat. By means of nuts on the rear ends of said rods the two parts are or may be tightly drawn together, and a very secure and eflicient brace and support for the seat and mechanism on which it is supported is thus provided, the rear portion of the seat being thus firmly secured to the forward portion of the base. By this arrangement, as will be readily understood, the seat may be not only easily and quickly tilted to the rear or side, and firmlysupported in whatever position desired, but the rear and side tilt may both be secured at the same time, if desired, and the same firm and secure support is still afforded.

The back C is secured to the rear of tho seat-frame work by hinges c, and is provided with arms 0', hinged to each of its sides at their rear ends and to a standard 0 at their forward ends, said standards being in turn hinged to the side pieces of the seat-frame. On the under side of each of said arms a toothed rack c is secured. In suitable bearings at the rear edge of said seat is mounted ashaft Cihaving rigidly secured to each end thereof fingers or pawls 0 formed to engage with said rack c on the under side of the arm and hold said back in the desired position. Around said shaft 0 aspring c is coiled, one end of which is secured to the seat-frame and the other end to the shaft, the tension of the spring being so exerted as to tend to turn, the shaft toward the back of the chair, and thus at all times keep the pawls in engagement with the rack c. A small thumbpiece or projection is formed on the side of each of said pawls, by which they may be pushed down out of engagement with the rack when desired. The pawls being normally held against the rack at all times when the back is raised from a horizontal position, they catch automatically in each successive notch of the racks, permitting the back to be released from the elevating-power at any time and held in substantially the position it occupied when released. At a suitable point on the rear of each side of the chair-back is secured an ear 0 in a perforation, in which the upper ends of a brace (J are mounted. Said brace G preferably consists of a rod bent to form a short horizontal part c in its center, which forms its lower end, with its ends extending in a diagonal direction in each way from said center upwardly, the extreme ends being bent in to engage with the bearings provided therefor in the ears c and preferably hooked down to make the engagement secure. Acasting C in the form of a short horizontal bar with a branch extending upward and also downward from each end thereof, is mounted on the part c of the brace 0 the connection being preferably made by passing the rod through transverse perforations in said upwardly-extending branches before its ends are connected to the chair-back. A hinge-joint is thus formed in the brace, which consists of both parts, and this joint constitutes the leading distinction of my invention over other braces now in use. The lower branches of said part 0 embrace the sides of a casting B secured to the rear corner of the seat and extending downward therefrom. A short vertical slot 11 is formed near the upper end of said casting, with which studs 0 formed on the adjacent faces of the branches of the part 0 which embrace said casting B engage. This engagement may be secured by forming the part (J of malleable iron or similar material, which will permit said branches to be spread sufficiently to insert the studs in the slot, when they can be drawn together. As will be readily understood, the part C may be of cast instead of malleable iron and a pin inserted through the several parts to secure the connection, if preferred. On the lower end of the casting B are formed hookshaped rests b and 19 into which the part c is adapted to rest when the back is tilted to its extreme positions. In Fig. 3 said back is indicated in dotted lines in the position substantially in line with the seat, this being shown as the extreme limit of the backward tilt, and the part c of the brace is shown as resting in the hook-shaped rest 5 In Fig. 5 the back is shown tilted to position so that the part a of the brace is given a bearing in the hook-shaped rest b. Each of said hookshaped rests is made so that when this part of the rod or brace is resting therein it willbe caught under the points of the hook sufficiently to require that the brace shall be slightly elevated before they will become disengaged, the slot 5 in the castings B being for the sole purpose of permitting said elevation. By this means the chair may be tilted forward from the position shown in Fig. 5 by lifting upon the back of the chair without disturbing the relative position of said seat and back. By means of this brace the chair-back is firmly supported in a horizontal position, which position brings the arms 0 and pawls c to a position so nearly parallel as to render the support afforded by said pawls inefficien t. The rest b also enables a position to be secured intermediate that of the last two notches of the rack-bar c with the consequentadvautage.

The foot-rest D is hinged to the upper corner of the front edge of the seat-frame, and has a part D hinged thereto, as shown. A rock-sh aft D is journaled centrally in the frame of the main part of the foot-rest, having a wing d, formed on one side thereof, in which is provided a series of notches. Said wing being formed at one side of the center of said shaft,its weight tends to at all times keep the notched edge down, a stop cl being formed on the upper end of said shaft adapted to come in contact with a portion of the frame and limitits movement when it reaches that position Where said notched Wing will thus automatically engage the catch-bar. A projection is also formed on said shaft, with which a rod d is connected, said rod extending out to the edge of said foot-rest and being provided with an eye or suitable handle by which the operator is enabled to seize it to rock said shaft to disengage said catch, when desired. A catch-bar or brake D formed of a bar bent into a form similar to the form of the rod C,beforedescribed,with two diagonalsides and a straight portion connecting them, is hinged at the upper ends of its sides to the lower corner of the front edge of the seat, the straight portion of the bar being arranged in close proximity to the under face of the footrest, and held in such relation by means of a strap d fastened to the rear side of the frame with the straight part of the catch-bar resting on its uppersurface, and thus adapted to slide and be supported thereon. WVith this part ICC of the catch-bar the notches of the pivoted wing (Z are adapted to engage when said wing is allowed by its own weight to turn down to the position shown in Figs. 8 and 9. To each side of the frame a lever D is pivoted, the inner end of which is connected by a link to the straight portion of the catch-bar, and the outer end of which is connected by a strap (1' to a bolt or pin secured in the front portion D of said foot-rest. The joint between the levers D and strap (1 is of a loose character, to permit a slight motion in both directions required. The foot-rest being in the positions shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 8, it is only necessary in order to change it to the position shown in Fig. 3, to lift it upward on its hinges, when the notched wing (Z will slide over the catch-bar D which will engage with the successive notches and support said footrest in whichever of the positions is desired, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3. \Vhen raised to the limit, said catch-bar engages with the last notch and supports said footrest in a horizontal position, as indicated by whole lines in said figure.

It will be understood, of course, that any numberof notches may be formed in the wing (l, and the adjustment of the foot-rest to an equal number of positions thus provided for. \Vhile the foot-rest is being raised, the catchbar being pivoted to the lower corner of the front of the chair-seat, its front draws back toward the rear of the foot-rest,which,through the levers D and links d, operates to gradually straighten out the part D of the footrest until when the horizontal position is attained said part is in line and forms a contin uous plane with the main portion D thereof.

The stirrup-bar E is provided with a downwardly-extending stud 6 near its rear end, adapted to be inserted in a socket d on the rear side of the top edge of the foot-rest. Said socket is formed somewhat larger than said stud, as indicated in Fig. 14, in order to allow said bar to be adjusted vertically to various positions. Behind said stud e the upper corner of the bar E is extended to form a lip or catch, which when said bar is swung into operative position engages under a projecting part b secured to the front edge of the seat in suitable position for the purpose. In placing said stirrup-bar in position said stud is inserted in the socket (1 when the stirrup-bar is in position substantially at right angles with the side of the chair, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 13, and is then swung around to the position indicated by whole lines, or any other position desired for use, the rear end catching under the projection b and preventing said stirrup-bar from being inadvertently lifted out of its socket. Said stirrupbar is supported from lateral movement by a brace E, hinged to its side and formed in two parts, slotted and adapted to slide upon each other, being secured together by a thumb-nut and screw c, the other end being turned downwardly and loosely inserted in a socket (Z 011 the rear side of the foot-rest, as shown. By this means the stirrup-bar is allowed to be adjusted sidewise, as desired, and secured rigidly in the adjusted position. It is supported at the desired elevation by means of a brace E which is also formed in two parts, secured together by a thumb-nut e and adapted to slide upon each other, as are the two parts of the brace E. The lower end of said brace is formed with a suitable journal and is mounted in asuitable bearing (Z secured to the edge of the footrest, and the upper end is pivoted to asocket E mounted and adapted to slide on said stirrup-bar, a setscrew (2 being provided, by which it may be secured in the desired position. A leg-rest E" is also mounted on the stirrup iron or bar by means of a socket a, secured thereto, as is the socket E said legrest being also vertically adjustable in its socket, whichis also adapted to turn on said bar, a set-screw c being provided by which it is secured in the position desired. The stirrup E is also secured to said stirrup-bar in a manner similar to that specified for the leg-rest. By this arrangement the legs of the patient being operated upon can be secured in any desired position and the knees comfortably supported at the desired elevation.

By this construction and arrangement a chair is provided adapted to meet all of the varied needs of such a chair, it being adapted to be adjusted to every position desired with ease and celerity, while the mechanism is all of a simple and inexpensive character, but at the same time so arranged and secured to the respective parts as to support the chair in whatever position it is adjusted firmly and securely without danger of breakage or displacement of the parts, thus overcoming a fault in chairs of this character in common use, which frequently destroys their usefulness and interferes with their ready adj ustment to the desired positions.

By adj usting the chair to the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 5, it is adapted for such uses as an operating-table is usually required for; or, as will be readily understood, if preferred, the chair-frame can be modified to the form of atable-top, or a regular table-top substituted for the seat-frame without departing from this invention, the same adjusting mechanism being equally applicable to the operation thereof, the use of such tables frequently requiring the adjustments provided for by said mechanism.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a surgical chair, the combination of the base, the seat mounted on said base and supportedthereon by a bearing located midway between the sides thereof, which bearing is formed to permit said seat to tilt in either direction and one part of which is secured to said base and the other part of which is secured to said seat, a cross-bar formed curved or downwardly extended in its center, journaled at its ends in suitable bearings secured to the sides of the seat and arranged in line with said central bearing, and a rod journaled in suitable bearings in the base and extendmg in and engaging with said central portion of the cross-bar, whereby the seat may be securedan-d operated, substantially as set forth.

2. In a surgical chair, the combination of the base or stool, a socket secured on the rear cross-bar of said base or stool midway between the sides thereof, the seat mounted 011 said base, a ball-bearing secured to the underside thereof and arranged to rest in the socket on the base, a bar formed with a downwardlyextending or curved center journaled at its ends in suitable bearings secured to each side of said seat in line with said ball-bearing, a bearing secured to the base-frame and engaging with the upper edge of said curved bar, which slides thereunder, a screw-rod rigidly mounted in suitable hearings in said base and engaging with said downwardly curved or extended portion of said bar, whereby said seat is afforded a' rigid support and at the same time may be tilted in either direction, a rack-bar depending from the front edge of said seat, and a pawl mounted on the base, adapted to engage therewith, substantially as set forth.

3. In a surgical chair, the combination of the base, a seat supported by suitable bearings on said base, the rear central bearing of which is a ball-and-socket joint or bearing, and the front central bearing of which is a rack-bar journaled in an appropriate housing secured to said seat and depending therefrom to engage with a suitable retaining-catch on the base, the journals of said rack-bar being substantially in line with said rear bearing, and an additional rear support and operating device consisting of a bar secured at its ends to the sides of the seat-frame by a hinge or pivotal connection arranged substantially in line with said ball-and-socket bearing, which bar has a downwardly-depending portion connected with a screw-rod appropriately mounted in the base-frame, whereby said seat is secured in or operated to the desired transverse adjustment, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a surgical chair, the combination of the base the front rail of which is formed elevated in its center to form a rest for the seatframe when in a horizontal position, a socket secured to the rear rail of said base-frame substantially midway thereof, said seat-frame mounted on said base and provided with a ball-bearing which rests in said socket of the base-frame, a rack-bar depending from the front portion of said seat-frame, to which it is hinged on journals in line with the other supports, a sliding pawl suitably mounted on said base and arranged to engage with said rackbar, a curved bar B, journaled at its ends in suitable bearings on the sides of said seatframe, which bearings are arranged in line with the central rear ball-and-socket bearing, and a screw-shaft journaled in suitable bearings on the base-frame and connected with said curved bar, substantially as set forth.

5. In a surgical chair, the combination of the base, the seat mounted thereon, provided with a support for a brace, the back h nged to the rear edge of said seat, and a ointed brace, one end of which is connected with said back and the other end of which is connected with said seat, the joint thereof forming a shoulder in said brace atthat point where, when the back is inclined to a horizontal or a substantially horizontal position, it willrest upon said support on the seat, substantially as set forth.

6. In a surgical chair, the combination of the base, the seat mounted thereon and provided with the casting B having hook-shaped rests b and b the back hinged to the rear edge of said seat, and the brace 0 the upper end of which is secured to said back and the lower end of which is secured in a vertical slot in said casting, a joint formed in saidbrace and having a shoulder which will rest in one of the rests b or b when said back is turned down, substantially as described, and for the purposes specified.

7. In a surgical chair, the combination of the base, the seat mounted thereon, the back hinged to the rear edge of said seat, the brace 0 connected to said back at one end and by a hinge connection to the casting G at the lower end, said casting 0 being formed to embrace the casting B secured to the rear edge of the chair and formed withprojectingpoints 0 on its lowerends, which are mounted in the slot 19 in said casting, and rests formed in said casting, wherein the straight or horizontal portion 0 of said brace O is adapted to rest when the back is turned down, substantially as described, and for the purposes specified.

8. In a surgical chair, the combination of the base, the seat mounted thereon, and a footrest hinged to theupper corner of the front edge of said seat and formed in two parts D and D, hinged together, the rock-shaft D carrying the notched wing d on one side, mounted in bearings in the part D, and the catch-barD hinged to the lower corner of the front edge of said seat and formed with a portion arranged to engage the notches of said wing d, substantially as set forth.

9. In a surgical chair, the combination of the base, the seat mounted thereon, the footrest formed of the two parts D and D, hinged together and hinged to the upper corner of the front edge of said seat, the rock-shaft D journaled in suitable bearings in said part D, extending longitudinally thereof and provided with the notched wing cl on one side, the catch-bar D hinged to the lower corner of the front edge of said seat and arranged to engage the notches of said wing as it drops to the proper position by its own gravity, and the levers D pivoted to the sides of the frame IIO of the part D and connected to the front end of said catch-barat one end and to links (1" at the other end,saidlinks (1* being in turn connected to the part D of the foot-rest, substantially as described, and for the purposes specified.

10. In a surgical chair, the combination of the base, the seat, the foot-rest hinged to the upper corner of the front of said seat, the rock-shaft D provided with the notched wing d on one side and with the stop d, arranged to limit the movement of said shaftin one direction, the rod d connected with said rockshaft and leading to a position convenient to reach, whereby said shaft may be operated in the direction to disengage said notches from the catch-bar, and said catch-bar D hinged to the lower corner of the front edge of said seat and arranged to engage said notches, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination, with a surgical chair, of a stirrup-iron extending out from its front edge, a stirrup adjustably secured to its outer end to swing thereon or be adj nsted longitudinally thereof, and a leg-rest also mounted on said stirrup-iron between the chair and said stirrup and secured thereto to be adjusted longitudinally or vertically or to swing thereon, substantially as set forth.

12. In a surgical chair, the combination of the base, the seat mounted on said base, the foot-rest secured to the front of said seat, a bar projecting from the front of said chair, and a leg-rest mounted to be vertically adjusted on said bar and also to be adjusted longitudinally thereof, substantially as set forth.

13. In a surgical chair, the combination of the base, the seat mounted on said base, the foot'rest secured to the front of said seat, a bar projecting out from the front of said chair, and a leg-rest mounted to swing and be adj usted vertically and longitudinally on said bar, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and sea], at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 5th day of March, A. D. 1891.

CHARLES N. LEONARD. [L. 5.]

Witnesses:

FRANK W. Wool), FRANK W. WARNER. 

